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Lot essay

In his works Kobayashi examines the effects of two- and three-dimensionality through the mediums of painting and sculpture. His beautifully crafted sculptures are miniaturized objects such as groups of abstracted trees placed on square platforms, or a bottle of wine. The artist emphasizes the difference in mediums by taking black and white photographs of his sculptures on the one hand, while juxtaposing these silver prints with the actual sculpture on the other hand. A part of a series called Scene (Lot 424 & 425), these photographs are highly atmospheric, revealing all the beautiful elements of black and white photography. Displaying a sense of plain honesty, the composition of dark black, gentle gradations of gray and crisp whites tells a story about textures and emotions, light and the absence of light.

Once the color is removed, it is like stripping a scene down to the bare bones, removing the layers and leaving the form. The same is true for the sculpture itself. While here the visual effect is different from the effect of the photographs, as it is missing all the elements of the photographic rendition, the abstracted trees, similar to the photograph, are reduced to their form and become tool-like objects, representing the material they are made of. Through the interesting dialogue of the two mediums, Kobayashi displays his unique artistic diversity.